Thursday, July 7, 2016

Too Damned Easy Spicy Orange Chicken and Broccoli

If I ever made a list of all-time favorite fast-food/carry-out dishes, Panda Express's Orange Chicken would have to be on it. It is so wrong, but so damned right. This recipe is nothing like it, apart from being called "orange chicken." Sorry. The only reason I even made this was because we couldn't figure out what to make for dinner. The Wife wanted pasta, and I just wasn't feeling pasta. Then I remembered a jar of orange marmalade lurking on the top shelf of a cabinet. I had long threatened to use it on something other than toast. Thus, this recipe was born. Possibly the goofiest thing I used in this recipe was Sunny Delight for the sauce. However, it gives you an orange citrus flavor punch that can't be denied. Feel free to use orange juice instead. You could probably even omit the sauce entirely and it would still be fine. I tried it with and without the sauce and enjoyed it both ways. Flavor-wise, I was very pleased with the result. Sweet orange flavor with a nice bit of heat. As always, notes are in blue.

Too Damned EasySpicy Orange Chickenand Broccoli

Ingredients

1-1/2 pounds breaded chicken tenders (our local market sells bulk bags of breaded chicken tenders like you get in the cups at Wal-Mart or Casey's gas stations. Sort of like popcorn chicken style. For a buck or so a pound, they're great. If you can't find them, find something similar. Hell, even Tyson nuggets would work.

3/4 cup orange marmalade

1 tablespoon Sriracha hot sauce

1 pound frozen broccoli

for sauce:

1/2 cup Sunny Delight (give or take, depending on how thick you'll want the sauce. Also, feel free to use orange juice if you don't like Sunny D. I thought it added a nice flavor)

2 tablespoons corn starch

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

2 teaspoons Sriracha hot sauce

1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

Directions

Cook chicken according to directions

Cook broccoli however you prefer (steaming, microwave, whatever. We just boiled ours for a few minutes)

While steps 1 and 2 are going, in a small saucepan, combine all the ingredients for the sauce (if you want it thinner, add a little more liquid.) Cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, until the sauce is your desired consistency (I went for that slightly thick and sticky sauce like you get at Panda Express).

Toss hot chicken and broccoli in a large bowl with the marmalade and Sriracha.